Listen to BBC Radio 3 on March 8

The schedule will include works of and conversations about Fanny Mendelssohn, Rebecca Clarke, Anna Meredith, Barbara Strozzi, Germaine Tailleferre, Mel Bonis, Augusta Holmes, among many others. Find the full schedule here.

In addition to the day long marathon, there will be including works by women composers in the week prior to and after International Women’s Day. Of the programming, Director of BBC Radio, Helen Boaden, says:

I’m delighted Radio 3 is celebrating female composers with a range of programmes dedicated to classical music written and chosen by women. The station will be championing the next generation of female talent as well as analysing the contribution of some of the great women of classical music – like Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann – who often worked in the shadow of their male counterparts.

Though I am looking forward to a day spent listening to so many works by so many different and under appreciated composers and am grateful for the intention behind the day-long marathon, wouldn’t it be even nicer to be able to listen to works by women composers outside of special programming?

All of this is a reminder that, unfortunately, Black History Month and Women’s History Month are still necessary; that we continue to need to designate a specific time to remember the history that is not regularly included in the conversation, or works that are not regularly included in radio broadcasts or concert programs. It serves, at very least, as a reminder of that work that is left to be done.